Portable information processing apparatus with a plurality of speakers

ABSTRACT

An object is to improve the sound quality and save the power consumption during listening to sound, in a portable information processing apparatus. The body for containing CPU is attached to a movable cover. The body and movable cover are provided, respectively, with one or more pairs of speakers for right and left channel. The sound circuit (sound control unit and amplifier unit) generates independent sound signals for each of the speakers. Only the speakers, the sound circuit and DVD drive  62  are switched on, when listening to the sound from DVD drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a portable informationprocessing apparatus, and particularly to a portable informationprocessing apparatus which outputs high fidelity sound from a pluralityof speakers, by using sound media such as DVD (digital video disc).

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Portable information processing apparatuses such as note personalcomputers becomes smaller and thinner, due to development insemiconductor technologies. Further, the note personal computers arebeing equipped with multiple functions for multimedia. However, thequality and volume of sound is not sufficient, because the sound is nota main concern and speakers are small.

[0005] The sound is improved by connecting appropriate speakers outsideof the note personal computer, although the portability of the computeris sacrificed. For example, as disclosed in JP No. 003044340 (utilitymodel), two speakers are provided on the left and right corners of adisplay unit equipped on a cover of the computer in order to obtainsuperior effect of sound.

[0006] However, the two speakers can not reproduce sufficient volume andquality of sound. Further, electric power is excessively consumed,because the power supply is switched on for the computer as a whole,even when users merely want to listen to music.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to improve the quality andvolume of sound and to save the electric power consumed by the portableinformation processing apparatus.

[0008] The portable information processing apparatus of the presentinvention comprises: a sound media drive for reading out sound data froma sound media; a sound circuit for generating one or more sound signalson the basis of the sound data for right channel and left channelindependently; one or more speakers for the right channel: and one ormore speakers for left channel. Here, one or more sound signals belongsto different frequency ranges.

[0009] Concretely, the portable information processing apparatus of thepresent invention may comprises: a body for containing CPU; a movablecover for covering the body; a sound media drive for reading out sounddata from a sound media; a sound circuit for generating one or moresound signals on the basis of the sound data for right channel and leftchannel independently; one or more speakers for the right channel: andone or more speakers for left channel. Here, one or more sound signalsbelongs to different frequency ranges.

[0010] Further, the sound media drive may be a digital video disc (DVD)drive, or compact disc (CD) drive, or compact disc read only memory(CD-ROM) drive.

[0011] Further, the portable information processing apparatus mayfurther comprises power supply control unit for switching on thespeakers, the sound circuit and the sound media drive.

[0012] According to the present invention, the sound quality is betterthan the conventional portable information processing apparatus.

[0013] Further, according to the present invention, a three dimensionalsound effect is obtained by the speakers on the movable cover of theportable information processing apparatus.

[0014] Further, the electric power consumption is saved by theindependent power supply control for sound circuit.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the portable information processingapparatus of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable information processingapparatus of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of amplifier unit 30 and its peripheralcircuits of the portable information processing apparatus of the presentinvention.

[0018]FIG. 4A is a waveform inputted into filters 41 to 46.

[0019]FIG. 4B is a waveform outputted from woofer filters.

[0020]FIG. 4C is a waveform outputted from middle range filters.

[0021]FIG. 4D is a waveform outputted from tweeter filters.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The embodiment of the present invention is explained, referringto the drawings.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portable information processingapparatus such as a note personal computer, of which cover 12 is openedat 180°.

[0024] Body 10 comprises body unit 11 for containing main parts such asCPU, and cover 12 for display unit 13. Cover 12 is movable and is closedon body unit 11. Users can adjust cover 12 at angles suitable to see thedisplay and operate the computer and to listen to the sound from speaker21 to 26.

[0025] Right woofer 23 and left woofer 26 are provided on body unit 11,while right middle range speaker, left middle range speaker 25, righttweeter 21 and left tweeter 24 are provided on cover 12.The number ofspeakers is not limited to the example as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable information processingapparatus of the present invention, which comprises CPU 51 for executingprograms and calculating data, memory 52 for storing programs and data,graphic control unit 53 for generating display data for display unit 13,auxiliary memory control unit 54 for transferring data to and frommagnetic hard disc drive (HDD) 55 and digital video disk (DVD) drive 62,sound source control unit 61 for generating sound source for thespeakers. These are connected with bus X. not-shown devices areconnected with Bus X.

[0027] In place of DVD drive 62, compact disc (CD) drive, CD-ROM drive,magneto-optic (MO) disc drive, or other auxiliary memory may beconnected with auxiliary memory control unit 54.

[0028] Power supply 70 comprises sound switch 71 for sound circuit 60and main switch 72 for the portable information processing apparatus asa whole. Therefore, the electric power is supplied only to sound circuit60 by switching on sound switch 71, when main switch 72 is turned off.Power supply line X5 is connected with sound circuit 60, while supplyline X6 s connected with the portion except sound circuit 60. Sound datais inputted into sound source control unit 61 through signal line X3under the control of sound switch signal X7 when main switch 72 is offand sound switch 71 is on. Otherwise, the sound data is inputted intoand outputted from sound source control unit 61 under the control ofsound switch signal X7.

[0029] Amplifier unit 30 outputs sound signal to speaker 20 on the basisof the output from sound source control unit 61. Sound source controlunit 61 comprises an A/D converter for the signals from DVD drive 62 andCPU 51, and an attenuator for adjusting the volume of speaker output.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of amplifier unit 30 which comprisesfilters 41 to 46 and amplifiers 31 to 36. The right channel signals fromsound source control unit 61 is connected with tweeter filter 41, middlerange filter 42 and woofer filter 43, while the right channel signalsfrom sound source control unit 61 is connected with tweeter filter 44,middle range filter 45 and woofer filter 46. The outputs from filters 41to 46 are amplified by amplifiers 31 to 36, respectively, and outputtedtowards speakers 21 to 26, respectively.

[0031]FIGS. 4A is a wave form inputted into filters 41 to 46. FIG. 4B isa waveform outputted from woofer filters 43 and 46. FIG. 4C is awaveform outputted from middle range flters 42 and 45. FIG. 4D is awaveform outputted from tweeter filters 41 and 44. The input soundsignal is divided into bass range, middle range, and high tone range byfilters 41 to 46. the divided signals are amplified independently byamplifiers 31 to 36. Speaker s 23 and 26 is suitable for bass ranfe,speakers 22 and 25 are suitable for middle range, and speakers 21 and 24are suitable for high tone range.

[0032] Next, the operation of the portable information processingapparatus of the present invention is explained about a case whereinsound is play-backed from a media on DVD drive 62, when main switch 72is turned on. The user sets up the sound media and instructs toplay-back the sound media. Then, CPU 51 has auxiliary memory controlunit 54 transfer to memory 52 the sound data of the sound media inappropriate segment unit, by using a not-shown play-back executionprogram. the sound data is transferred directly to memory 52, ortransferred through CPU 51 to memory 52. The sound data is furthertransferred from memory 52 to sound control unit 61 by the play-backexecution program.

[0033] Then, sound source control unit 61 generates 2-channel (LR)analog signals and send them to amplifier unit 30 which filters them byfilters 41 to 46, amplifies them by amplifiers 31 to 36, and outputsthem to speakers 21 to 26. This procedures are repeated until the userinstructs to stop the play-back of sound.

[0034] Next, an explanation of the operation of the portable informationprocessing apparatus of the present invention is made concerning aplay-back from media drives such as HDD 55. After the play-backinstruction by the user, CPU 51 has auxiliary memory control unit 54transfer to memory 52 the sound data of the sound media in appropriatesegment unit, by using a not-shown play-back execution program. Thesound data is further transferred from memory 52 to sound control unit61 by the play-back execution program. The sound from HDD 55 isplay-backed likewise the sound from DVD drive 62.

[0035] Thus, the sound quality is superior, because three speakers forright and left channels are fed by suitable sound signals independentlyamplified by the amplifiers of amplifier unit 30. The sufficient soundvolume is obtained without degrading the sound quality, because thesound output is divided inn three frequency ranges. Further, the soundeffect becomes better, because the angle of speakers on cover 12 isadjusted freely and easily.

[0036] Next, the operation ot the portable information processingapparatus of the present invention is explained, concerning theplay-back, when main switch 72 is off and sound switch 71 is on, whereinthe sound data is supplied only by DVD drive 62. When the user sets up asound media on DVD drive 62 and instructs the play-back thereof, thesound data from DVD drive 62 is sent directly to sound control unit 61through signal line X3. Here, the play-back instruction may be executedby operating a switch of DVD drive 62.

[0037] Then, sound source control unit 61 generates 2-channel (LR)analog signals and send them to amplifier unit 30 which filters them byfilters 41 to 46, amplifies them by amplifiers 31 to 36, and outputsthem to speakers 21 to 26. Signal line X3 is selected by not-shownswitching circuit on the basis of sound swtiching signal X7 from powersupply 70.

[0038] Signal line X3 may be selected by not-shown other switchingcircuit for detecting, for example, the status of CPU 51. In this case,signal line X3 is selected, when the electric power is not supplied toCPU 51.

[0039] As explained above, the user can listen to the music from DVDdrive 62, saving the power consumption of the computer apparatus,because it is possible to switch on only DVD drive 62, sound sourcecontrol unit 61 and amplifier unit 30. Here, DVD drive 62 may besubstituted by other memory apparatus such as CD-ROM drive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable information processing apparatus whichcomprises: a CPU for processing information; a sound media drive forreading out sound data from a sound media; a sound circuit forgenerating one or more sound signals on the basis of said sound data forright channel and left channel independently; one or more speakers forsaid right channel: and one or more speakers for left channel; whereinsaid one or more sound signals belong to different frequency ranges. 2.A portable information processing apparatus which comprises: a CPU forprocessing information; a body for containing said CPU; a movable coverfor covering said body; a sound media drive for reading out sound datafrom a sound media; a sound circuit for generating one or more soundsignals on the basis of said sound data for right channel and leftchannel independently; one or more speakers for said right channel: andone or more speakers for left channel; wherein said one or more soundsignals belong to different frequency ranges.
 3. The portableinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein saidsound media drive is a digital video disc (DVD) drive, or compact disc(CD) drive, or compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) drive.
 4. Theportable information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , whereinsaid sound media drive is a digital video disc (DVD) drive, or compactdisc (CD) drive, or compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) drive.
 5. Theportable information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , whichfurther comprises a sound switch for supplying said sound media driveand said sound circuit with electric power, when said CPU is notsupplied with electric power.
 6. The portable information processingapparatus according to claim 2 , which further comprises a sound switchfor supplying said sound media drive and said sound circuit withelectric power, when said CPU is not supplied with electric power. 7.The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,which further comprises a main switch for supplying said CPU, said soundmedia drive and said sound circuit with electric power by turning onsaid main switch, wherein only said sound media drive and said soundcircuit are supplied with electric power, when said main switch isturned off and said sound switch is turned on.
 8. The portableinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2 , which furthercomprises a main switch for supplying said CPU, said sound media driveand said sound circuit with electric power by turning on said mainswitch, wherein only said sound media drive and said sound circuit aresupplied with electric power, when said main switch is turned off andsaid sound switch is turned on.